“I married Anne to save her from her contemptible mother, but it was too late. She was too weak to ever regain her strength. I married her and then I had to watch her die.” Darcy pounded a fist onto his desk and pointed a finger at Lord Matlock, “And now you DARE speak to me of DUTY?!
He straightened, then breathed deeply in through flared nostrils and let it out slowly, clenching and unclenching his fists. The only noise was the breathing of the two men, until Darcy continued in a controlled tone. “The next arrangement I make will be purely for my happiness, and the benefit of Georgiana and the people of Pemberley. I will not discuss this with you further. My decision is final. My Lord.” The last two words were spoken in a biting tone.
Lord Matlock was speechless. His hands hung to the sides of his slouched body, with his eyes locked on Darcy. “I did not know. F-forgive me, I did not know.”
It was not clear who the earl was asking forgiveness from, but, seeing his uncle’s shock, Darcy found compassion for the older man. He walked to the drinks cabinet, poured a small quantity of brandy into a glass and handed it to his uncle, seating himself in one of the nearby chairs.
He offered a few words of comfort to the shattered man, “Anne knew she did not have long and made me promise to remarry, this time for true affection. I will respect my wife by mourning the full year and I will respect my promise, too, by marrying a woman of my choosing, with whom I share a deep and abiding affection.”
Matlock grumbled to himself, too quietly for Darcy to understand, but he nodded his head once, definitively. He raised the glass to his lips and took a long swallow, and then another to finish the drink.
He gripped the empty glass and stared at it as if contemplating his desire for a second one. Finally, he climbed to his feet and placed the glass on a nearby table. “I trust we will see you at the concert this evening?”
“Georgiana and I will be there.”
“Very good, very good. I will, uh... I will make it clear neither you nor Georgiana are interested in making any arrangement at this time.” He could not meet Darcy’s eye.
“Thank you. We would greatly appreciate it.”
Matlock said his farewells and retreated from Darcy’s study.
Coming out of his reverie, the music and bright colours of everyone’s finery swirling around him, exacerbated his headache. Yet, as he sat next to his sister in the audience praying for the evening to reach a swift conclusion, Darcy could only ponder a pair of the finest eyes he had ever seen.
~ / ~
Longbourn
It was a bright, yet cool morning when the Gardiners, Jane, Elizabeth and Alex said their goodbyes to Mr Bennet and Kitty.
Elizabeth had made her peace with her father. The rest was up to him. Time will tell if he took the necessary steps to emerge from behind his books and interact with Kitty and the rest of the world.
Now she only kissed his cheek and told him she loved him.
“Will you be returning to Longbourn, Lizzy?”
“I am not sure, Papa. It depends on what is resolved with my finances.”
Mr Bennet nodded his understanding. If his Lizzy became financially independent, he knew she would make her home elsewhere. “I will miss you. Do what you must. Just promise to visit before too much time has passed.”
Elizabeth gave him her best cheeky grin, “Or, you might come visit me, wherever that may be.”
“There is that twinkle. I have missed it this long while. Take good care of your sister.” He frowned in Jane’s direction. “I fear an eruption is necessary before she can move forward.” His gaze settled back on his favourite daughter. “I imagine Jane will not be back, either?”
“Not if I can help it, Papa. This is no longer a place where she can grow and spread her wings.” It was unclear if Elizabeth was referring to Longbourn, Meryton, or the surrounding neighbours. Perhaps a little bit of all three.
He nodded slowly, his expression blank, but rapid blinking dried the tears attempting to pool in his eyes. “She will have need of your strength.”
Elizabeth glanced over to where Jane was giving Kitty last minute instructions. “Then it is fortunate I have strength to spare.” She turned her gaze back onto her father and raised her brows. “As do you.”
He only smiled sadly and patted her shoulder before stepping over to give Jane his farewells.
Mrs Hill was nearby holding Alex. “Thank you, Mrs Hill.” Elizabeth took Alex into her arms and clucked her tongue at him. “You will write and let us know if there is any cause for concern?”
“I will, ma’am.”
“Very well. Then I shall not worry.”
“No, Mrs Lizzy. You take care of yourself and your son. And of Miss Jane. ’Twill be nice if she were to meet a nice young man.”
